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Monday, September 26, 2016

Kerry: We must 'act or shut up' on two-state solution

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly blasted Israel at a private meeting in New York last Monday over its policy in Judea and Samaria, Haaretz reported Sunday.

According to the newspaper, Kerry’s comments came at a closed meeting of ministers representing the countries providing financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The Secretary of State repeatedly raised his voice, emphasizing that Israel and the PA are moving in the direction of a bi-national state rather than a Palestinian state alongside Israel and are also headed toward war.

Kerry reportedly added that if the international community is interested in putting a halt to these developments, “Either we mean it and we act on it, or we should shut up.”

Western diplomats who were present at the meeting, but who asked not to be identified because the meeting was not public, noted that Kerry was extremely agitated.

While he blasted Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, the U.S. Secretary of State also expressed criticism of the PA, the sources said, citing the increased number of terror attacks and the incitement against Israel.

However, the thrust of his remarks constituted criticism of what was described as “the unprecedented rate” of construction in Judea and Samaria particular, and Israel’s policies in the region in general, according to Haaretz.More

Still, in order to come to a peaceful agreement, shouting and fist pounding is never going to work. If John Kerry disagrees with ideas brought forth by others, he needs to be able to calmly present his reasons as to why it may not work, and suggest a different solution if he has one.

Susan Rice, DPhil, National Security Advisor, stated the following in her Sep. 14, 2016 article titled "The U.S. Is Making a Historic Investment to Protect the Security of Israel," available at whitehouse.gov:"Over the past eight years, the United States has provided Israel with almost $24 billion in military aid. We've invested over $3 billion in Iron Dome and other missile defense technologies, which have saved countless Israeli lives...

Today, we are signing a memorandum of understanding—or a MOU—to provide Israel $38 billion in military aid over ten years, including $33 billion in foreign military financing funds and an unprecedented commitment of $5 billion for missile defense. This marks a significant increase over our existing funding, and it will ensure that Israel has the support it needs to defend itself by itself and to preserve its qualitative military edge.

This is the single largest pledge of military assistance—to any country—in American history."